Fergie - Fantastic final

Sir Alex Ferguson is predicting a 'fantastic' final when Manchester United meet Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League.

The Red Devils booked their place in the 28th May showpiece at Wembley with a 6-1 aggregate destruction of sorry Schalke, triumphing 4-1 at Old Trafford in the second leg with goals from Antonio Valencia, Darron Gibson and Anderson's brace.

Ferguson made a host of changes to his starting XI with one eye firmly on Sunday's crucial Premier League showdown with Chelsea and was not disappointed by the display of his squad players.

Wembley holds special memories for both United and Barca as it is the venue where both clubs lifted their first European Cup, in 1968 and 1992, respectively, and the clash is a repeat of the 2009 showdown in Rome, which the Catalan club won 2-0.

"I think it will be a fantastic final. It is some weeks ahead and I hope we have everyone ready," Ferguson told Sky Sports.

"The big advantage this time as opposed to two of our previous finals is that we have no players missing. In '99 we missed Roy Keane and Paul Scholes and in 2009 we missed Darren Fletcher.

"We've got everyone available this time and that does make a difference.

"This is the best competition in the world, all the best teams are there. To get to the final is an achievement itself, but to win it is the ultimate."

Ferguson must now immediately switch his focus to Sunday's Premier League clash at Old Trafford where victory for the Blues would see them take over at the top of the table on goal difference with just two games remaining.

Last season saw United suffer a crucial home defeat to the West London club just days after crashing out of the Champions League to Bayern Munich, and the Scot has promised it will be a different story this time.

He said: "The problem for us last year was emotional tiredness. The first half against Chelsea we didn't play well and Chelsea were the better team.

"This time, we are fresh, we have won this game, we are in the final at Wembley and we are going to go for it on Sunday."

Despite saluting the players on duty against Schalke, there is every chance that Ferguson will make sweeping changes again at the weekend, with Nemanja Vidic, Rio Ferdinand and Wayne Rooney all held back.

But the Red Devils boss had nothing but praise for the performance of his understudies and was also keen to highlight the qualities of Ralf Rangnick's outclassed Bundesliga troops.

He concluded: "The attitude was fantastic. Schalke played much better than they did last week. The thing about German teams is they never give in, and that's a quality that we have."

Source: Sky Sports
Date Published: 5 May 2011

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Have your say on Fergie - Fantastic final in the United Online forum

Fergie knows best yet again. A professional performance and we're off to Wembley. 3 finals in 4 years. Never saw that coming in 2004 or 05. Terrific achievement.

- twoc2002

God I hope he takes Scholesy off... Happy days though! Gibson in "decent half" shocker...maybe he needed that kick in the ribs eh?!

- Jonesy

Nervous...nervous...nervous. Rather he played the strongest team

- Cookster68

No problem with the attack, but a rookie defence and no Carrick or Fletch for protection leaves me a bit worried. Got to hope Ando and Scholes can control the game. Please please please can we score the first goal and settle the nerves!

- twoc2002

I had a feeling he would make big changes. I am very worried about how Evans and Smalling will cope.

- Shaun

Based on the way the first leg went we should comfortably make the final but that's what makes me worry a little bit. Schalke can't play as bad as they did and will really go for it at Old Trafford, if they can get an early goal then it really is game on and if they see our lineup is a lot weaker then that will surely give them belief. I'd hope that we'd put out a lineup something like: Van der Sar Rafael - Vidic - Ferdinand - Evra Valencia - Scholes - Fletcher (if he's fit) - Nani Owen - Berbatov I wouldn't have said that any of the back five would need a break and keeping that consistent could be crucial to the title run in. This would give Giggs, Carrick, Park, Anderson, Rooney and Hernandez all a rest and would hopefully all come straight back into the side to face Chelsea on Sunday. The way that everyone is already talking about Barcelona and United in the final though is a little worrying as comments like that can come back to haunt you. I'm sure Fergie and the players will be aware that the job still needs to be finished off at Old Trafford tonight though and hopefully we can get an early goal and put the tie to bed and afford to bring a few players off and rest them for the Chelsea game.

- Dave

Well, the manager has said Fabio won't play. I think he will rest one of Ferdinand / Vidic, I hope he doesn't but he might considering how well Smalling has done so far this season.

- Shaun

I don't see him messing about with the back 5 at all. Reckon will be strong defence, a defensive midfield inc Scholes to help keep it tight at the back and keep the ball, thenm Berba and Owen.

- Oli

It is a big game, it is a European semi-final after all. But if Ferguson fields a team like the one I suggested I think we'll still beat them.

- Shaun

Call me a nervous nelly but nothing is more un-secure, IMHO, than a 2 goal lead. Some are actually talking like all we need to do is show up! I'll admit that we are in a great position, but I'll not be satisfied until the job is done! We need to score early and take all hope out of Schalke. If they score first, it could be game on. We looked dead tired against the Arse. The fixtures are catching up with the team. HOPEFULLY, we'll see this out double quick and then roll on Sunday!

- Darren